Door latch and handle mechanism



May 20, 1958 A. VAHTRA DOOR LATCH AND HANDLE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1956 INVENTOR Aft 0 Vafi/Jd.

BY WW ATTORNEY May 20, 1958 A. VAHTRA 2,835,

DOOR LATCH AND HANDLE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Aft/Q Vdizf/W;

BY r 3 d I ATTORNEY United States Patent M 2,835,525 V DOOR LATCH AND HANDLE MECHANISM Arvo Vahtra, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application February 14, 1956, Serial No. 565,501

4 Claims. (Cl. 292169) This invention relates to door latch and handle mechanism.

The invention is more particularly concerned with door latch mechanism of the kind generally recognized as a spring projected bolt whose free end engages a recess in a door jamb together with means operable by a knob on each side of the door for retracting the spring projected bolt.

While the present invention is for the same purpose as present door latches above briefly referred to, it has as a primary object a single hand engageable latch retracting member accessible from either side of a door, whereby the present objection to loose door knobs is wholly overcome.

A further object of the invention is to provide door latch mechanism, which embodies relatively few simple and durable cooperating elements, which are easy to assemble, and when assembled are not liable to get out of working order.

. latch actuating handle structure and wherein said handle structure is highly attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved latch mechanism with portions of a door and door jamb indicated in dot-and-dash lines in which the latch mechanism is mounted.

Fig. 2 is an elevational door of a bolt keeper plate shown mounted in a door jamb or door post indicated fragmentally in dot-and-dash lines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental elevational view as observed toward the free edge of a door and showing in particular the bolt guiding plate.

Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view of the latch mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of a bolt and spring receiving casing.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the casing shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a retaining member.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the retaining member.

2,835,525 Patented May 20, 1958 ICE Fig. 13 is an end view of the bolt as observed from the left of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a side view of the bolt as observed from the bottom of Fig. 12.

. Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of a cam actuated bolt retracting member.

Fig. 16 is a view as observed from the left of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a bottom plan view of the member shown in Fig. 15.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the latch assembly ispre-assembled in two separate sub-assemblies, which may be identified as handle assembly and latch assembly.

At the outset it is to be observed that the door D is provided with a lateral trough opening 0 for reception of the handle assembly and an intersecting opening 0 for the latch assembly, the latter opening extending through the free edge of the door.

The handle assembly comprises a one-piece handle structure 10 including a pair of cylindrical journals 11 and a member 12, having a cam 13. The handle assembly further comprises a retaining member 14 which includesopposite side plates 15 whose lower ends are interconnected by a brace bar 16 and whose upper ends are interconnected by a brace bar 17. The said ends are provided with tapped apertures 18 for a purpose later referred to and the side plates 15 intermediate the ends thereof are interconnected by a disk 19 having a central opening 20 which is provided with diametrically opposed rectangular recesses 21.

The handle assembly further includes a latch retracting member 22 which includes an angular portion 23 which 'is'retained in contact with member 12 by means of one end of a leaf spring 24 whose opposite end is secured to said brace bar 16.

The member 22 further includes a cam engageable portion 25 and a vertical leg of said member 22 is provided with an aperture 26 having a pair of diametrically opposed recesses 27.

The pre-assembled handle structure as above described may be positioned in the door opening 0 prior to assembly of the latch structure since upon introducing the mechanism intermediate the handles 10 into the opening 0, the door side plates 28 may be position over the ends of opening 0 as indicated by dotted line in Fig. 4 and upon the introduction of screws into openings 29 in plates 28, same will enter the tapped apertures 18 in the retaining member 14 and thereby hold the parts in position. It is to be noted that plates 28 are provided with openings 28' for journals 11.

The latch structure includes a casing 30 having a rectangular end plate 31 which is provided with apertures 32 for receiving bolts to secure the plate to the free edge of the door. 2

The inner end of casing 30. is provided with a circular portion 33 which is provided with diametrically opposed tongues 34 which enter the recesses 21 in disk 19 upon initial position of the casing in relationship to its final position wherein the said tongues engage behind the disk and lock in casing in position prior to securing the plate 31 to the door.

The plate 31 is provided with a central opening 35 corresponding to the interior of casing 30 whereupon the bolt 36 may be pushed back into the casing.

The bolt includes a beveled rectangular outer end portion 37 and a cylindrical shank 38 having diametrically opposed tongues 39 on its free end.

Upon insertion of the bolt into the casing a coil spring 40 is positioned over the shank 38 and the bolt together with the spring urged rearwardly into the casing with the tongues 39 aligned with the recesses 27 in member 22 after which the bolt is rotated together with casing 30 forinterlockingof thetoligueswith said member 22 which limits outward movement of the bolt under the-action of spring 40.

A lteeper plate 41 is secured to the door jamb J and same is provided with a 'bolt receivin o enin -42.

From the above description it should'beappreciated 'ihat by-"th'e"pfesentinvention a""door"latch mechanism is provided which is relatively simple in'con'structi'on, -artis'ticinappearandeandwhichis durable-and"dependable in use.

Having setfo'rth' my inventiondna'ccordance with a preferred strumurlenibokiimemwhereof, what I claim and desire to secure by U. 8'. Letters Patent is:

1; *Door latch "and handle *meha'nism compri'sing a =pairof*haniiles positionable at opposite-sides of ado or, means "rigidly "connecting "said handles and being dis posable in a lateral opening in the door and inlu'di'nga *cam, mean's mounting the "handles and said connecting "means for simultaneous rotation, a casing positionable in an ope'ning through the -free edge of the door and in communication with said firs't opening, a bolt slidably disposed in said casing, means disposable in'said 'first opening having a releasable connection with said bolt and an operative engagement with said cam, whereby 'sziid latch is retractedupon rotation of "saidh'andles a casing retaining member positionable in said first opening and having 'screw "receiving apertures therein, said "means rigidly'connecting s'aidhan'dles comprising a-pair of journals; :1 pair of side plates securable to the door 1'11 covering -relationto-said first opening and having central openings receiving said journals and said side plates having screw receiving opnings aligned with said opening in said retaining member.

2. The structure according to claim 1 together with a leaf spring secured to said retaining member and being yieldably engaged with s'aid ic'ar'n engaging means.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said retaining 'nren'ilier and "said casing "are provided with relcasable connecting :means and whereinsaid c'am engaging means and said bolt are provided with releasable connecting means.

4. The structure according to claim -3 together with a coil spring in said casing in surrounding relation to said bolt for normally projecting same outwardly of said casing.

References Cited i'n"the file at "this patent -UNITED STATES PATENTS 1; 9 j3'75 Slilage M'ay"20, 1930 2,'23"1, 443 Gerfifdtfil Feb. 11, 1941 *2;4-47,290 'Truninger Au 17, -'19 4s "2,510,746 Kleebe'rg June 6, 1950 2,547,256 Cerf Apr. 3, 1951 255K072 {Falk Fe'b. '2, 1954 2,729I485 S'c'hlage Jan. 3, 1956 

